This afternoon, with about 200 others in Zuccotti Park, I stood ten feet from Jackson Browne while he stood on top of a marble bench and sang a 1/2 hour set of protest songs and spirituals, accompanied by Dawes and a paid of extraordinary backup singers. (Stephan Jenkins, from Third Eye Blind, opened.) Browne ended his set with an extended version of Little Steven's "I Am A Patriot," the whole crowd singing the refrain:
I was walking with my brother
And he wondered what's on my mind
I said what I believe in my soul
Ain't what I see with my eyes
And we can't turn our backs this time
I am a patriot
And I love my county
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
The people who understand me
I've got nowhere else to go
And the river opens for the righteous…
And I was talking with my sister
She looked so fine
I said, Baby, what's on your mind?
She said, I want to run like the lion
Released from the cages
Released from the rages
Burning in my heart tonight
And I ain't no communist
And I ain't no capitalist
And I ain't no socialist
And I ain't no imperialist
And I ain't no democrat
And I ain't no republican
I only know one party
And it is freedom
I am, I am, I am
I am a patriot
And I love my country
Because my county is all I know
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday
For those who were there, it was an experience they won't soon forget. Glad I was one of the lucky ones. (Go here to hear it for yourself.)
More pics on the photo page. Video of Jackson's performance of "I Am A Patriot" below.